ANAHEIM – This season is being called the “Year of the Pitcher” as offensive numbers across the league are down. There have been five no-hitters, two of which were perfect games, and that’s not including the perfect game Armando Galarraga had taken away from him by an umpire’s blown call.

The Angels’ offensive problems have been well-documented, but manager Mike Scioscia said the increase in quality pitching has roots that go back before this season.

“I definitely saw this coming,” he said. “We’re in an era now where there are more power arms than we’ve seen in a long time. We’ve seen a lot of power arms coming up the last couple years, and they are really developing now.

“Also, the performance-enhancing substances being cleaned up in the game has had an impact on hitters.”

Scioscia said baseball this season has been more “old school,” but the difference in style has hurt his team.

“You look at our games, there are games we lost because of fundamentals,” he said.

“You have to play baseball now instead of home run derby. I think that’s good for our game. We have virtually the same defense we had last year, but bad plays could be absorbed because of our offense.”

Holds and saves

Closer Brian Fuentes has converted 17 of his past 18 save opportunities, lowering his ERA in the process from 4.97 to 3.22.

With set-up men Kevin Jepsen and Fernando Rodney also pitching well recently, Scioscia feels confident the Angels can hold onto a late lead.

“From a strategic standpoint it’s huge,” Scioscia said. “When your seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning guys are throwing well, your ability to shorten the game is tremendous. … You can do so many things right during a game, but if the bullpen doesn’t do what they can do, it’s going to go up in smoke.

Also…

Howie Kendrick did not start Wednesday’s game, but later entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and grounded into a double play. He remained in the game at first base and walked in his final plate appearance, his hitting streak ending at 12 games. … Jim Joyce, the umpire who blew the call on Galarraga’s near perfect game, was the home plate umpire Wednesday. … The Angels are off today then begin a three-game series against Toronto on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

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